Today is 小雪 (xiǎo xuě)!

Today is 小雪 (xiǎo xuě）or Light Snow. It is the 20th of the 24th Chinese Agricultural Calendar Terms.
During this time the weather gets significantly colder and small water droplets may even turn into snowflakes!
We may have noticed here in Seattle that the weather has gotten significantly colder! The "three natural phenomena" during this time are 1. "the hiding of rainbows" which means that the natural phenomena of rainbows stop appearing during this time as water droplets freeze into snowflakes 2. "Qi of the heavens rises, and Qi of the Earth descends" meaning that the activity of life begins to slow down 3. "Closing up and transitioning to winter" All living creatures enter a phase of winter hibernation. Traditionally during this time, those in China may pickle vegetables, cure meats, make wine, and make 糍粑 cí bā (pictured in the illustration), a type of sweet sticky rice cake!